John Edward never imagined he’d use his psychic abilities to help solve some of America’s most chilling crimes. But when FBI agent Robert Hilland reached out in 1998 about one particularly frightening case involving convicted murderer John Smith, Edward couldn’t ignore the call.
Years later, Edward, 55, and Hilland have reunited to write Chasing Evil: Shocking Crimes, Supernatural Forces, and an FBI Agent’s Search for Hope and Justice. The book recounts the case of Smith, who was convicted of killing his first wife in 2001, and other cases that Hilland and Edward worked together to solve, including the murder of Annie Le and Michael Vick’s involvement in a dog-fighting ring.
“I think this book [is] the punctuation at the end of that chapter,” the self-proclaimed medium shares exclusively in the latest issue of Us Weekly, on newsstands now. “When [Hilland] came to me and said he wanted to tell this story, I was OK with it. The main case of the [book] kind of took a lot out of [Hilland]. Now, [we] get the chance to control the narrative.”
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Edward and Hilland built an unexpected partnership, each utilizing their unique abilities to work on cases until Hilland’s retirement in 2022. Edward tells Us that working with the law enforcement veteran helped him heal his own complicated relationship with his father, a New York City police officer who was skeptical of the supernatural.
“I recognized that there was a part of me that was seeking my dad’s approval, and this gentleman [Hilland] was representing that concept for me,” Edward recalls. “I wasn’t just helping this guy on the cases; it was a deeper connection. I was trying to prove to my dad that I had value when it came to what I do.”
Edward recognizes that true crime is more popular than ever but says that Chasing Evil is unique due to its supernatural element and exploration of psychic phenomena.
“This is almost like a new genre. It’s a hybrid of those two worlds,” he says, adding that his father would be “proud” of the book.
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Ultimately, Chasing Evil shows readers that justice does exist, according to Edward: “There are people that are out there doing something for the greater good.”
Chasing Evil: Shocking Crimes, Supernatural Forces, and an FBI Agent’s Search for Hope and Justice will be available in bookstores nationwide on Tuesday, September 2.
